A house on the River Avon where Shakespeare once passed out drunk is on the market at just £850k
The Old Falcon in Bidford-on-Avon isn't just steeped in history, it pretty much wrote it. It's also a large characterful family home.


I went on a stag-do to a pub once. It’s a pretty unremarkable sentence, except that we rented the entire pub on AirBnB and actually stayed there. We had the entire pub to ourselves. A good, if messy, idea for a weekend away.
I’ve always dreamed of living in a pub. If someone asks me what I would do if I wont the lottery and money was no longer an issue I had to worry about, then I would likely buy a pub and work there. It would be a nice way of keeping busy, meeting new people and I could make it just the way I like it. I know that doesn’t sound particularly extravagant for someone who has just potentially won millions of pounds, but I am a simple man of simple pleasures.
The next best thing, perhaps, would be to live in a former pub or coaching inn. Something like The Old Falcon on the High Street of Bidford-on-Avon in Warwickshire. It’s currently for sale for £850,000 with Hamptons.
Before we get through the nuts and bolts of the property, it’s important to understand that, as well as being a former coaching inn, it is also a site of serious historical importance. According to tradition, it was upon the steps of this Grade II*-listed property that King Charles II rallied his supporters on December 2, 1651, on the eve of the Battle of Worcester. It is also rumoured that Shakespeare once drank there, and had to have a nap under a tree nearby as he was a bit of a lightweight.
So a storied history indeed. And that is very much reflected in the walls of this five-bedroom semi-detached home. Oozing with character and charm, the property is now a much loved family home in the heart of Bidford-on-Avon. Wooden beams abound, and there’s even a stained-glass window of The Bard in the entrance hall.
It has everything you could possibly want from a characterful local home. Set over three floors, there’s plenty of space, and the five bedrooms are supplemented by a study, three bathrooms, a dining room, sitting room and cellar.
There’s also a garden to the rear, with a summer house, and a double-bay garage. Plust, all the various amenities of village life are on the doorstep.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The Old Falcon is for sale with Hamptons for £850,000. For more information and pictures, click here
Credit: Galbraith
760 acres of peace and quiet in the Scottish Borders, with only eagles, ospreys and falcons for company
Get lost in the scenery at Talla Farm.
The 'best of both worlds' in a 16th century house with Georgian façade and sprawling grounds with lake and stables
All houses change a little over their lifetimes — and some end up unrecognisable as the centuries pass. Penny Churchill takes

James Fisher is the Digital Commissioning Editor of Country Life. He writes about motoring, travel and things that upset him. He lives in London. He wants to publish good stories, so you should email him.
-
Let's go crazy with Country Life's Quiz of the Day, August 26, 2025
Tuesday's Quiz of the Day will test your knowledge of Prince's discography, The Addams family and Prime Ministers past.
By Country Life Published
-
If there's no fish, there's no fishing, with Robin Philpott
The CEO of Farlows joins the Country Life Podcast.
By James Fisher Published
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of them
Brithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
By James Fisher Published
-
This blissful converted mill has sweeping views, a breathtaking library and gardens by a Chelsea gold medallist
Penny Churchill takes a look at Stanbridge Mill, one of the finest properties for sale today in the west country.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Portmore has it all: A 3,459-acre Scottish estate for sale, with a signature Baronial sandstone mansion at its heart
For sale for the first time in 40 years, Portmore Estate is everything you could ever want in Scotland.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews houses
From birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
By James Fisher Published
-
The distinctive and historic home that might just be 'one of Dorset’s most picturesque'
Grade II*-listed Manor House, set in just under eight acres, dates from the 16th century.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courts
Fords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
By Penny Churchill Last updated
-
The 15 best-value commuter towns for people working in London, according to new research from one of Britain's top estate agents
Savills have released their list of the best-value commuter towns in Britain. But do the sums add up? Toby Keel takes a look.
By Toby Keel Published
-
What everyone is talking about this week: Where are the new Cotswolds?
The appearance of American Vice President J. D. Vance in the Cotswolds is a sure sign that they're saturated, but where else can you escape to that has the same charm?
By Will Hosie Published